Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
RECENT SALES
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RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism.
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Introduced in 1941 and thus often referred to as "1941 Pattern" though it is correctly termed "Life Saving Waistcoat, Stole-Inflated pattern". Yellow cotton construction with leg tapes, built-in grab handles, pocket for floating torch and battery holder, flap for dye pouch, and including an extremely rare early yellow silk covered stole (bladder) complete with its lever-operated inflation mechanism. Extremely clean, near perfect condition with no wear or tears - though curiously the zip at the back of the collar is missing its slide and puller. No evidence of damage - it's just absent! (Could no doubt be replaced with care and patience). The stole is pliable and clean with no damage, though the red rubber sleeve covering it's top up valve mouthpiece is long gone. Well marked and dated 9/41 which is extremely early. A textbook example in excellent condition.
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 RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |  RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |
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 RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |  RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |
 RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |  RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |
 RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |  RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |
 RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |  RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |
 RAF1941 Pattern Life Vest with early yellow silk stole, complete with lever inflation mechanism |
Exquisite, WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" in red baize-lined case.
Spectacular pair of very early French flying goggles. The "Cyclops" goggles were designed to offer the best wind and weather protection, as well as better visibility than conventional 2-eye-piece goggles. Curved (cylindrical) one-piece optical glass lens with a nickel plated surround, leather facemask lined with red velvet and elastic strap. This style was sold in department stores such as Roold of Paris to compliment the popular Roold range of flying helmets (see last image). Of course these display superbly with a Roold or similar helmet! These come in a beautiful red baize-lined, leatherette-covered wooden case and include an additional spare glass lens, all in absolutely fabulous condition, and apparently unworn. A remarkable find.
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 WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |  WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |
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 WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |  WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |
 WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |  WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |
 WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |  WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |
 WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |  WWI French made flying goggles "Cyclops" |
RARE USAAF 452nd BG, 8th Air Force Pictorial Unit History.
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Not the biggest in terms of page count (40pages plus hard cardboard cover), but one of the best of these immediate post-war unit histories I have seen. The 452nd BG was stationed at Deopham Green in England and comprised the 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st Bomber Squadrons and each of their colourful unit patches are depicted in full colour on the back cover. This book is almost 100% photographs and shows a wide range of historical images, including
A-2 jacket art, nose art, mission photos, flying kit and a lot more. Great period artwork, as well.
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 RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |  RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |
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 RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |  RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |
 RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |  RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |
 RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit HistoryDSCN4272 |  RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |
 RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |  RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |
 RARE USAAF 452nd BG Unit History |
Modified British Army flying boots possible USAAF use?
Very interesting pair of flying boots, which may have been tailored for a USAAF pilot/crewman or perhaps modified from a pair of British Army issue flying boots. They definitely appear to be British style and construction, in high quality brown leather, calf skin lined, and mid-calf length. The rear seams have been cut apart and WWII pattern Talon zip fasteners sewn into place, making the boots easier to put on and take off. These zips appear to have been added by a rigger. In so doing, the original height of the boots may have been cut down slightly at the back to accommodate the zips. Leather soles are original. Modification has been done well and they are a very nice pair of boots. British Army flying boots, similar to the RAF 1936 pattern boots but considerably shorter and brown leather, were issued to Glider pilots and Army Co-operation pilots.
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 Modified British Army flying boots for USAAF |  Modified British Army flying boots for USAAF |
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 Modified British Army flying boots for USAAF |  Modified British Army flying boots for USAAF |
 Modified British Army flying boots for USAAF |  Modified British Army flying boots for USAAF |
 Modified British Army flying boots for USAAF |
RAF Type D flying gloves, non-matching pair.
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Excellent non-matching pair of Type D flying gloves. Near perfect match in the colour of the leather, but one is marked as a size 9-1/2 while the other is marked a size 10. However they seem to be a very close match in size and it's hard to tell when wearing them or placing them together. One has a broad arrow marked label and the other has a nice A-crown-M label. These and other gloves were often issued non-matching and I have no doubt these were always together this way (although they appear unissued).
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 RAF Type D flying gauntlets |  DSCN9546 |
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RARE RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents in very good condition.
Very few survive and most show major deterioration. This example is complete with all contents and in surprisingly good condition. The case has some inward warping around the edge, but lid fits for display and contains a remarkable list of components: Rubberized water bottle; chewing gum (12); malted milk tablets (24); 2 tubes of condensed milk; plastic container with matches (slightly warped and fragile with some minor cracks at the edge); compass in waterproof pouch; combination razor blade, burning glass and can opener; fishing line; 2 rolls of sticking plaster; energy tablets; 2 packets of halazone (water purifying) tablets. 5/44 dated inspection slip. Though some of the perishable contents have leached from their wrappings and are a bit sticky, this is one of the best Escape Aids Boxes I have seen in a long time.
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 RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents |  RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents |
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 RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents |  RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents |
 RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents |  RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contentsDSCN4791 |
 RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents |  RAF aircrew Escape Aids box complete with all contents |
Box of 2 unused filter canisters for WWII USN MSA oxygen rebreather kit dated 1943.
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A scarce accessory for the US Navy rebreather apparatus carried in most USN aircraft for use with the Type C oxygen mask and others. These filters mount on the side of the apparatus and contained charcoal for filtering out CO2 during the rebreathing process. Two original and unopened canisters contained in their original manufacturer's packing box as issued, USN property marjed and dated July 1943. The boxes evidently got damp at some point and there is surface rust on the green canisters which has stained the paper labels, however the labels are intact and still legible.
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 Box of 2 filter canisters for USN MSA rebreather kit |
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 Box of 2 filter canisters for USN MSA rebreather kit |
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